Adjustable truss construction

ABSTRACT

A truss construction especially adapted for use in reinforcing and/or restoring sagging flooring of a building to a substantially horizontal position comprises a plurality of individual truss units arranged in a row and coupled to one another in such manner as to enable adjacent units to rock relative to one another in opposite directions and bow upwardly the truss formed by the assembled truss units. The individual truss units from which the assembled truss is formed are separable from one another and the components from which such units are formed are separable to enable such units to avoid interference with utility materials such as wiring and plumbing components during placement of the truss units in operative condition.

This invention relates to an adjustable truss adapted to underlie a flooring supported on horizontal, spaced apart joists as to reinforce and/or restore the floor to a substantially horizontal position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Residential and commercial buildings conventionally have horizontal flooring supported atop underlying, horizontal joists. The joists usually comprise elongate members fairly uniformly spaced apart and having their opposite ends supported on suitable upstanding structures such as a foundation wall or the like. In the construction of a building it is customary to form the foundation and then install the joists and flooring materials. A plurality of braces usually interconnect the joists and such braces conventionally extend obliquely from the lower edge of one joist to the upper edge of an adjacent joist. Such braces serve to maintain the joists in their upright positions and minimize to some extent sagging of the joists and the overlying flooring.

Following the installation of the joists, the flooring, and the braces in a building it is conventional to bore holes in at least some of the joists for the purpose of enabling utility components, such as wiring, water pipes, heating ducts, air passages, sewer lines, and the like to extend through such openings, thereby avoiding having to place such utility components at a level below that of the lower edges of the joists. Over a period of time squeaks may develop due to uneven settling of parts of the building, sagging of some of the joists and flooring, and separation between some of the joists and the overlying flooring. The squeaks usually can be eliminated by reinforcing the flooring, and one of the best reinforcements comprises a truss having a beam which parallels the joists and spans a distance corresponding to the length of such joists. However, the installation of such a reinforcing truss between a pair of adjacent joists is extremely troublesome and time consuming if braces and utility components of the kind referred to above span the distance between two adjacent joists where it is desired to install the reinforcing truss.

In some instances it is desirable to reinforce an area of the flooring on which a heavy load is to be placed, thereby minimizing the possibility of causing damage by overloading such area. The installation of such reinforcements is subject to the same difficulties referred to earlier.

A truss construction which overcomes a great deal of the difficulties in reinforcing flooring is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,152. Such truss has a relatively long beam that is adapted to be placed between a pair of adjacent joists and supported at its ends in such manner as to bear against the lower surface of the flooring. The beam is pivoted to a plurality of longitudinally extending, V-shaped reinforcing members which can be attached to the beam following installation of the latter. The V-shape of the reinforcing members enables them to be attached to the beam in such manner that the utility components occupy the space between the V-forming limbs, thereby avoiding having to cut or remove any of the utility components. Following installation of the V-shaped reinforcements they may be adjusted relative to one another in such manner as to enable the beam to bear firmly against the lower surface of the flooring and prevent further sagging thereof. In some instances, it is possible to restore sagging floor sections to their original, substantially horizontal conditions.

Although the truss construction disclosed in such patent functions satisfactorily in many cases the provision of such a long beam makes it difficult, in some instances, to position the beam in the proper location to provide the desired reinforcement of the floor.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable truss which retains the advantages of the patented truss, but avoids the difficulties encountered with such truss.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An adjustable truss constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a plurality of individual truss units adapted to be placed between adjacent floor joists and joined to one another to form an elongate truss. Each truss unit is of generally triangular configuration having an upper, elongate member and a pair of underlying limbs having corresponding ends fixed to each support bar. The opposite ends of such limbs are coupled to a common connector that also underlies the upper support bar. The limbs converge in a direction toward the common connector, thereby forming an open space between the limbs of each support member as well as an open space between the limbs of adjacent support members. The limbs of each support member removably may be secured to the upper support bar either before or after the latter is joined to an adjacent support, thereby avoiding having to cut or disconnect any utility component or brace which may extend between adjacent joists.

Following the joining of a sufficient number of truss units to span the distance between the foundation walls or other supports, force applying means may be installed between the common connectors and adjusted to enable adjacent truss units to rock relative to one another and bear against the bottom of the flooring with sufficient force as to prevent sagging thereof or, if desired, to lift and raise the flooring and restore it to a substantially horizontal position.

THE DRAWINGS

Apparatus constructed in accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of one embodiment of the invention installed beneath a sagging floor;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating the truss in adjusted position so as to restore the floor to a substantially horizontal position;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the truss embodiment shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, exploded, partly sectional and partly elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but illustrating the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Apparatus constructed in accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 is adapted for use with a commercial or residential structure having upright foundation walls, footings, or other supports 3 on which a plurality of spaced apart, substantially horizontal joists 5 are supported so as to underlie flooring 7 and provide support therefor. In FIG. 1 the flooring 7 is shown as having an exaggerated sag. The exaggeration is for clarity of illustration.

An elongate truss 9 is composed of a plurality of identical, substantially triangular truss sections 11. Each section comprises an elongate, angle bar support member 13 having an upright wall 14 at each end. In each wall 14 is an opening 16. Each truss section also includes a pair of limbs 18 fixed at their upper ends to a right angular or L-shaped coupling 20 having a lower flange 21 and an upstanding flange 22 through which extends an opening 24. The limbs 18 converge downwardly toward and are fixed to one another and to a common connector 26 having a trough-like body or housing 28 provided with end walls 30 and a top wall 32, but no bottom wall. Each end wall 30 is provided with an opening 31.

The coupling members 20 are spaced apart a distance such as snugly to straddle the bar 13 with the openings 16 and 24 in alignment. A threaded bolt 34 having at one end a head 35 may extend through the aligned openings 16 and 24 and a correspondingly threaded nut 37 fitted to the free end of the bolt so as to join the upper ends of the limbs 18 to the bars 13.

As is best shown in FIG. 5 a force transmitting rod 38 is threaded at its opposite ends for passage through aligned openings 31 in the walls 30 of two adjacent common connectors 26. Those ends of the rod 38 within the connectors 26 may be fitted with a washer 40 and a threaded nut 42 which enables the distance between adjacent couplings 26 to be adjusted.

Upright angle bar supports 44 are provided at each end of the truss 9 formed by a plurality of the truss sections or units 11. Each upright has a foot 46 which rests atop a support wall 3 and a flange 48 having an opening therein for the accommodation of one of the bolts 34.

To condition a truss section 11 for use with a plurality of other such units in those instances in which there are braces (not shown) or utility elements 50 and 52 adjacent the wall 3 and which span the distance between adjacent joists 5, the angle bar support member 13 adjacent a wall 3 may be disassembled from the limbs 18 and manually placed against the lower surface of the flooring 7 so as to avoid interference between the member 13 or a limb 18 with any of the utility elements 50, 52, as is shown at the right hand end of FIG. 1. Once the support member 13 is placed against the lower surface of the flooring 7 the limbs 18 may be recoupled to the member 13 by placing the ends of the member 13 on the flanges 21 with the flanges 22 straddling the walls 14 of the member 13. A bolt 34 then may be extended through the opening 24, the opening 16, and the opening in the upright flange 48 so as to connect the right-hand end of a truss unit 11 to the support 44. The opposite end of the member 13 similarly may be joined to the other coupling 20 so that the flanges 22 embrace opposite ends of the member 13. A bolt 34 then may be extended through the openings 16 and 24.

Following assembly of the endmost truss unit with an upright 44 the endmost unit temporarily may be supported by any suitable support, such as a ladder or adjustable jack (not shown).

An adjacent truss unit 11 then may be assembled with the endmost unit in substantially the same manner, if there are braces or utility components which must be permitted to extend through the space between adjacent limbs. However, if there are no braces or utility components to contend with, a fully assembled unit 11 may be joined to the endmost unit simply by extending a bolt 34 through aligned openings 16 in adjacent walls 14 and the nut 36 rotated to couple the adjacent units 9 to one another and provide a desired space 50, or no space, between the confronting walls 14 of the adjacent support units 11.

Additional truss units 11 may be assembled with one another to span the distance between the support walls 3, and the opposite endmost unit 11 coupled to the opposite support 44 in the manner described and as is shown in FIG. 1. The ladder(s) or jack(s) then may be removed since the assembled units 11 will be supported by the foundation walls 3 and the couplings between adjacent units 11.

A force transmitting rod 38 may be used as shown in FIG. 5 to couple each adjacent pair of truss units 11 to one another. Following the accommodation of the opposite ends of each rod 38 in adjacent common connectors 26, the nuts 42 may be rotated so as to draw the two adjacent common connectors toward one another. This movement will cause the two adjacent truss units 11 to rock in opposite directions. That is, the right-hand unit 9 shown in FIG. 5 will be rocked clockwise, whereas the adjacent left-hand unit will be rocked counterclockwise. Such rocking movements will cause the confronting ends of the support members 13 to be moved upwardly, as shown in FIG. 2, thereby enabling the flooring 7 to be forced upwardly to remove whatever sag exists.

Other adjacent units 11 may be similarly adjusted until such time as the flooring 7 is adequately reinforced or occupies a substantially horizontal position. In connection with the illustration of the flooring 7 in FIG. 1, it should be understood that opposite ends of the flooring at all times will be supported by the subjacent sections of the joists and that the curvature of the flooring as illustrated in FIG. 1 is exaggerated for purposes of clarifying the explanation of the result of adjusting the truss sections in such manner as to place the flooring 7 in substantially horizontal position. When this occurs, the completed truss 9 will be arched upwardly, as is shown in FIG. 2. The curvature of the arch also is exaggerated for clarity.

The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 is similar in many respects to the earlier described embodiment. Accordingly, those components which are the same are identified by corresponding reference characters. The assembled truss is identified by the reference character 51, and the individual truss units are identified by the reference character 52.

The principal difference between the two embodiments is that, in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, a common connector 53 comprises an elongate angle bar 54 provided with upstanding walls 56 at its opposite ends. The walls have openings 58 for the accommodation of headed bolts 60 which may be accommodated in correspondingly threaded nuts 62. The overall length of the common connector 53 corresponds to the overall length of the support bar 13.

The support bars 13 are assembled with the common connector bars 53 in the same manner as has been described heretofore in connection with the bars 13 and the common connectors 26. In assembling the members of the second embodiment, however, a space 64 may be provided between confronting walls 14 of adjacent members 13 and another space 66 provided between confronting walls 56. The spaces 64 and 66 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. By providing the space 66 the force exerted on the confronting walls 56 by the bolts 60 and the nuts 62 will cause the confronting walls to move toward one another and reduce the size of the space 66, thereby causing adjacent truss units 52 to rock in opposite directions so as to arch the assembled truss upwardly and restore the flooring 7 to a substantially horizontal position.

The bolts 60 and the nuts 62 therefore constitute not only means for connecting adjacent truss units to one another, but also force transmitting means for rocking such truss units. The provision of the space 64 between the confronting walls 14 of the support members 13 facilitates such upward arching of the assembled truss because such space permits relative movement between adjacent confronting walls 14.

As is the case with the first embodiment, the sagging of the flooring 7 and the upward arching of the assembled truss are exaggerated for illustrative purposes.

The disclosed embodiments are representative of presently preferred forms of the invention, but are intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims. 

1. A truss construction comprising a plurality of individual truss units arranged in a row, each of said truss units having an upper, elongate member having opposite ends, a pair of limbs underlying said upper member, and a common connector; means coupling corresponding ends of said limbs to opposite ends of said support member; means coupling opposite ends of said limbs to said common connector, said limbs converging in a direction toward said common connector; adjustable means connecting the elongate member of each of said support members to the elongate member of an adjacent truss unit; and adjustable force transmitting means connecting the common connector of each of said truss units to the common connector of an adjacent truss unit.
 2. The construction according to claim 1 wherein the opposite ends of said limbs are joined to one another and to the associated common connector.
 3. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said common connector comprises a hollow housing.
 4. The construction according to claim 1 wherein said common connector comprises an elongate member having a length corresponding substantially to that of the elongate member which overlies said common connector.
 5. The construction according to claim 1 wherein the means coupling corresponding ends of said limbs to opposite ends of said elongate member provides vertical and horizontal support for said elongate member.
 6. The construction according to claim 5 wherein the means coupling said corresponding ends of said elongate member comprises an L-shaped bar having integral horizontal and vertical flanges.
 7. The construction according to claim 6 wherein said coupling means enables the vertical flanges of adjacent elongate members to be moved toward and away from one another.
 8. The construction according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable force transmitting means connecting the common connectors of adjacent support members enables the common connectors of adjacent support members to be moved toward and away from one another, thereby enabling the adjacent support members to rock relative to one another.
 9. The construction according to claim 1 including support means at opposite ends of said row for providing vertical support for those truss units at said opposite ends of said row.
 10. A truss construction comprising a row of individual truss units each of which has an upper, substantially horizontal bearing member, a pair of limbs joined at corresponding ends to opposite ends of said bearing member and converging downwardly from said bearing member, a common connector member secured to said limbs at those ends thereof opposite said corresponding ends; adjustable force transmitting means securing confronting ends of adjacent common connector members; and vertical support means at opposite ends of said row of truss units for supporting in an elevated position a truss formed by said row of truss units.
 11. The construction according to claim 10 wherein said common connector member comprises a hollow body having at each opposite end a wall provided with an opening therein through which said force transmitting means extends.
 12. The construction according to claim 11 wherein said force transmitting means is operable to move adjacent common connector members toward and away from one another and thereby rock adjacent truss units relative to one another.
 13. The construction according to claim 12 wherein said force transmitting means includes a tie rod adjoining adjacent common connector members to one another.
 14. The construction according to claim 13 wherein each said tie rod extends through the opening in said wall of said hollow body and threadedly accommodates a rotatable nut by means of which adjacent common connector members may be adjusted toward and away from one another. 